Game 2011.77: Diamondbacks at Tigers

For once, Phil Coke got some run support. Glove support, not so much. The floodgates opened in the 4th following Raburn’s boot of a double-play grounder, and Coke never quite got the lid back on. Regarding the error Leyland, straining to maintain the fiction that Raburn is a good fielder, said “that was a tough play.”

There was no play of any sort on the game-winning HR by Wily Mo Pena, which was measured at 454 feet, making it the 3rd longest HR at Comerica.

There were some bright spots in the game, including a HR by The Ghost, continued clutch hitting by Martinez and Peralta, and a vintage Ordonez opposite field double. Hopefully this is a hint of a resurgent Magglio.

And the brightest spot of all is that today is another day, and this other day features Justin Verlander on the mound. Hopefully Verlander will have his fastball back today; Verlander says his last start “wasn’t that great,” and that his “fastball control wasn’t anywhere near where it should be.” Consequently he struggled through a 4-hit, 1 run, complete game.

It should be a fine day for fans of pitching, since Verlander will be opposed by Josh Collmenter, who is 4-3 with a sparkling 2.09 ERA. Collmenter, a native of Homer, MI, and a Central Michigan alum, has an outstanding 39:11 K to BB ratio, so don’t expect many free passes tonight.

Today’s Player of the Pre-Game: Brennan Boesch

With JV on the mound, a baesch or two should do the trick today; Boesch takes a shot at the #2 spot in the order.

30 Comments

I see that Rayburn is being rewarded for that “tough play” error with a day off. The bench isn’t exactly Toledo, but maybe some time polishing the pine will get Ryan comfortable.

Stormin Norman$

June 25, 2011 at 6:59 pm

It would be great if Raburn could put together a 2nd half (offensively) like last year, but i’m not sure if that lightning is going to strike ‘again’ – especially if/when Carlos Guillen were to get plugged in at 2B next month… and Raburn gets relegated to the utility player role (which Kelly or Santiago deserves it more).

As a .200 hitter that strikes out every 3rd at bat, Raburn offers very little to a lineup. Sure he ‘plays a lot of positions’, but none of them very good.

He tends to be a better 2nd-half player. Other than that, what to make of him. I dunno, and I bet management doesn’t either. The best option may be to somehow get him on the DL until August and then try him again. In the meantime he is just wasting ABs.

Stormin Norman$

June 25, 2011 at 7:21 pm

the Indians lose Choo for about 6 weeks due to thumb surgery (hit by pitch)… Morneau (Twins) out for 6 weeks (surgery)… the stars continue to line-up for the Tigers.

Premature sure, but minus any key injuries (Cabrera, JV, Vmart, Avila), they should do something they haven’t done in 24 yrs, win their division… and who knows, it may take only 86 wins to do it.

judpma

June 25, 2011 at 7:25 pm

I wonder how many times …Jackson has struck out to start a game…its depressing watching him lead off…..

JOE Z

June 25, 2011 at 7:29 pm

i love baseball for things like, fox sports arizona talking to collmenters mom and they show him spitting out a bunch of water and blowing his nose in two different shots. baseball dugouts clearing leading the dirtiest place in sports. love it

Coleman

June 25, 2011 at 7:49 pm

The Tigers have had a few tough losses this season, but I don’t know if we can come up with anything to match the Indians today, who lost to SF on a walk-off balk.

judpma

June 25, 2011 at 7:53 pm

it wasn’t a walk off balk it occurred in the 7th inning….just less excitement I guess …still a tough way to lose

Coleman

June 25, 2011 at 7:53 pm

Well, it seems that it wasn’t a walk-off balk, just the winning run scoring by balk. That’s what I get for listening to Mario and Rod without checking myself.

Vince in MN

June 25, 2011 at 8:11 pm

My heart bleeds for them.

Coleman

June 25, 2011 at 7:51 pm

Who is that playing 3B, Ingeburn?

judpma

June 25, 2011 at 7:53 pm

he must still have lingering mono from watching him bat and field

JOE Z

June 25, 2011 at 7:59 pm

magglio rounding back into form

Coleman

June 25, 2011 at 7:59 pm

Do you mean the almost-double to RF, or the GIDP?

Vince in MN

June 25, 2011 at 8:01 pm

That’s grounding back into form, I think.

JOE Z

June 25, 2011 at 8:14 pm

lol

judpma

June 25, 2011 at 8:06 pm

shudda PH Rabum there at least he would have only K’ed giving Miggy a chance

judpma

June 25, 2011 at 8:09 pm

I wonder what Al Kaline ,who knows a bit about hitting is thinking as he watches Inge, Maggs, Raburn make out after out after out after out

JOE Z

June 25, 2011 at 8:15 pm

i love victor, never doubted the contract. hold me to it in 3 years

and jhonny!!

judpma

June 25, 2011 at 8:19 pm

i guess you hit that on the head !!!!

JOE Z

June 25, 2011 at 8:17 pm

GO !!!

ALEX!

judpma

June 25, 2011 at 8:20 pm

AA…….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mr. X

June 25, 2011 at 8:24 pm

Who was it that never liked Avila?

Coleman

June 25, 2011 at 8:25 pm

Gerald Laird

Mr. X

June 25, 2011 at 8:26 pm

TSE?

JOE Z

June 25, 2011 at 8:51 pm

i can remember the comment in the 2nd week of the season or whatever saying to send him down for more seasoning. :))